News about agriculture in New York State and information farmers and consumers can use in their daily lives.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Donate at Rainbow Milk Bar at the Fair to Provide Milk to Needy Families

From the New York State Fair:

For thousands of
fairgoers, the annual trip to the Great New York State Fair isn’t
complete without a stop at The Rainbow Milk Bar for a cup of 25-cent,
ice-cold white or chocolate milk.

Now, fairgoers can donate
their spare change to the Great American Milk Drive and help ensure
more families can get milk year-round, said Rick Naczi, chief executive officer of the American Dairy
Association and Dairy Council and State Fair Acting Director Troy
Waffner.

Through The Great
American Milk Drive, dairy farmers and milk processors, in partnership
with Feeding America, are helping to give much needed nutrient-rich milk
to millions of hungry families through area food pantries and food banks.

There is a nationwide
shortage because milk is rarely donated.

“Milk is one of
the most highly requested items at food banks throughout the country,” Naczi said. “To
help provide more milk to families who depend on these
facilities, we are asking fairgoers to donate a quarter for every cup
of milk they purchase. We’re calling this campaign “Get One, and Give
One Too.” If just a fraction of the people that visit the Milk Bar
donate, we’d raise $22,000 and that would buy a
lot of milk.”

Donations to
support the Great American Milk Drive will be accepted at every milk
station at The Rainbow Milk Bar. All proceeds will be earmarked for
milk purchases and distributed to food banks throughout New York.

“The Rainbow Milk
Bar is one of the fair’s most popular exhibits, and it’s become a
tradition for families to stop by and get a cup of ice-cold milk," said Waffner. "It
promotes the health benefits of milk and supports our dairy
farmers. Now, Fairgoers can use their love of dairy to give back, and
help get fresh, nutritious milk to other families in their communities.”